- 1039 - MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 23 RD , 2006 AT 7:30 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CIVIC ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, BRANDON, MANITOBA PRESENT : Mayor D. Burgess in the Chair, Councillor V. Barletta, Councillor E. Black, Councillor M. Blight, Councillor L. Brown, Councillor M. Campbell, Councillor R. Chrest , Councillor D. Jessiman, Councillor D. Paterson, Councillor G. Rice, Councillor B. Smale, Youth Councillor R. McKim ABSENT : Nil ADOPTION OF AGENDA : Blight-Rice 2002 That the Agenda for the Regular Meeting of City Council to be held on Monday, October 23 rd , 2006 be adopted as presented. CARRIED. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES : Jessiman-Barletta 2003 That the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of City Council held on Tuesday, October 10 th , 2006 be taken as read and so adopted, all statutory requirements having been fulfilled. CARRIED. HEARING OF DELEGATIONS : (A) BERNIE CRISP – SPECIAL OLYMPICS CANADA 2006 SUMMER GAMES Bernie Crisp appeared before City Council on behalf of the Special Olympics Canada 2006 Summer Games to display a power-point presentation and present the Games’ Final Report. He thanked the sponsors for their support before, during and after the Games and reported that the Games had realized a $75,000 profit, which would be left as a legacy to assist future athletes, along with various pieces of equipment donated to several organizations within the City. He concluded the presentation with a pictorial power-point presentation taken during the Games. Paterson-Barletta 2004 That the presentation of the final report by Cory Gross of the Special Olympics Canada 2006 Summer Games be received. CARRIED. PUBLIC HEARINGS : Nil COMMUNICATIONS & PETITIONS : Nil - 1040 - COMMITTEE REPORTS : (A) POVERTY COMMITTEE VERBAL REPORT OCTOBER 23 RD , 2006 Councillor Rice provided a verbal report on behalf of the Poverty Committee and advised that the Committee had been invited to meet with the Honourable Gregory Selinger, Minister of Finance, regarding the Provincial budget review whereby Councillor Rice reported that he would represent the Committee and provide information on the Committee’s affordable housing issues, update on alternative credit regulations, shelter allowance and rates for social assistance recipients and post secondary education and training for those on social assistance. Rice-Brown 2005 That the verbal report by Councillor Rice with respect to the Poverty Committee be received. CARRIED. ENQUIRIES : (773) 3-WAY STOP - KIRKCALDY DRIVE & KNOWLTON DRIVE Councillor Paterson noted the traffic concerns on the North Hill around the Corral Centre and enquired whether or not a 3-way stop could be considered for the Kirkcaldy and Knowlton Drive intersection. He acknowledged that the Brandon Area Road Network Development Plan was expected to be completed in the next couple of months and should address a number of issues, including the above mentioned. Therefore, he advised that he would wait to see that Plan before he enquired further on this issue. His Worship the Mayor agreed to take this matter under advisement in the future if necessary. (774) CANADA WEST FOUNDATION STUDY RE: PROPERTY TAXES Councillor Black noted that the Canada West Foundation had recently released the results of a study into property taxes in large Western Canadian cities. He asked that a copy be requested for Council’s review prior to budget deliberations. His Worship the Mayor agreed to take this matter under advisement. (775) CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE Councillor Black referred to a previous enquiry regarding the Crime Prevention Committee and noted that he had been advised at that time that further information would be coming in the Fall, but to date, nothing had been received. He enquired when this update could be expected. His Worship the Mayor advised that while the Chairman of the Committee had shared information recently with the media, he would request that the Chairman submit a formal report to Council as soon as possible. He further noted that the Committee had been working with the Brandon Police Service on statistics and the proposed graffiti by-law and that there was a Public Forum planned in the near future. He also noted that he would touch base with the Citizens on Patrol group to ensure there was no overlapping between the two committees. (776) PARALLEL PARKING TEST SITE Councillor Rice noted that the site for parallel parking tests had been moved to the 500 Block on 4 th Street, which was causing parking problems for the nearby Community Centre. He enquired whether the test site could be moved onto the parking lot of Manitoba Public Insurance Driver & Vehicle Licensing premises. - 1041 - His Worship the Mayor noted that to meet testing requirements, the testing had to be done on a street, rather than in a parking lot, but agreed to contact Manitoba Public Insurance to discuss the situation. (777) POTHOLES AND STREET RESURFACING Councillor Rice expressed concern that pothole repairs had not been maintained in the paved back lanes around Victoria Avenue. He referred to a response to a previous enquiry which stated that pothole maintenance and street resurfacing was being outsourced and given that there was a short supply of resources this year, much of the work was not being completed. He noted that although it had been promised that the rest of the work would be completed next year, he was concerned with the outsourcing of these projects and enquired whether more money could be put into the budget for these projects to keep them in-house. His Worship the Mayor agreed to take this matter under advisement. (778) DRAINAGE ISSUES IN RICHMOND AND GREEN ACRES WARD Councillor Campbell referred to a conversation she had with the City Engineer in regards to drainage issues in the Richmond and Green Acres Ward. She stated that he could explain the situation better than she and enquired if an update from the City Engineer could be requested. At the request of the Chair, the City Engineer advised that there had been problems securing land for the detention pond in the area but that had now been secured and further advised that they had also looked at an extension of the storm sewer in the area of 9 th Street and Richmond Avenue. He noted that the work was currently under design and the intention was to carry on with the work on Maryland Avenue over the winter months, with work on Richmond Avenue taking place next year. He stated that improvements to the existing detention pond at 1 st Street and Richmond Avenue were also planned for this winter. In conjunction with the above, Councillor Jessiman enquired whether or not the detention pond at 1 st Street and Richmond Avenue was guaranteed to go ahead this year. At the request of the Chair, the City Engineer advised that the required data for the improvements was being gathered now and he hoped it would be completed some time next year but he could not guarantee it. (779) HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY Councillor Blight noted that the Household Hazardous Waste Day which was held on October 14 th , 2006 had once again been a big success and enquired if a thank-you could be sent to the service clubs, such as the Rotary Club, who assisted with the event. His Worship the Mayor agreed to take this matter under advisement. ANNOUNCEMENTS : GREEN ACRES SCHOOL CLOSURE Councillor Jessiman referred to a previous enquiry regarding a rumour that Green Acres School was being considered for closure. He announced that he had met with the Superintendent of the Brandon School Division who confirmed that this was just a rumour and no plans were in the works for the closure of this school. - 1042 - ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL WINDOW TO FORMER COUNCILLOR CHARLES WILSON Councillor Black announced that on October 15 th , 2006 St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church dedicated two stained glass windows; one to Joseph and Esther Boyle, and the other to former City Councillor Charles Wilson and his wife Marion. Councillor Black noted that Mr. Wilson was a City Councillor from 1955 to 1964. BRANDON AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL 50 TH ANNIVERSARY Councillor Black announced he had attended the 50 th Anniversary Celebration of the Brandon & District Labour Council on October 14 th , 2006 and reported that it was a very good event with speeches from the President of the Canadian Labour Congress, President of the Manitoba Federation of Labour and former City Councillor Ross Martin who was President of the Labour Council from 1979 to 1998. PROVINCIAL BUDGET REVIEW Councillor Rice announced that a meeting would be held on November 1 st , 2006 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Westridge Community Centre. He noted that the Provincial Finance Minister would be in attendance and encouraged the public to attend. ACCOLADES TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Councillor Barletta announced that he had been asked by area residents to thank the staff of the Development Services Division for the improvements to the 400 Block of 16 th Street. VISITORS FROM MINNEAPOLIS His Worship the Mayor announced that it was his pleasure to entertain Nancy McGregor and her son Ian from Minneapolis. He noted that Ms. McGregor’s grandfather, Mr. Leslie McDorman, was Mayor of the City in the 1940s and her great-great-grandfather, Mr. Robert Hall, was Mayor of the City in 1903. He commented on how nice it was to be able to share the history of Brandon and show them the pictures located within City Hall and further commented that this reminded him of how important it was to maintain the history around City Hall. FAREWELL – COUNCILLOR RICK CHREST Councillor Chrest announced that he would be stepping down from City Council after 3 terms, approximately 11 years and close to 300 regular meetings.